Torch



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F. 0. ROCKWELL. TORCH.

Patente-ad Oct. 10, 1893.

`with great brilliancy and intensity, possess- `UNITED STATES PATENTQFFICE.,

FREDERICK ROCKWELL, OF HARTFORD, CONN EUCTICUT.

TORCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,548, dated October10, 1893.

Application filed June 3, 1892.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that LFREDERIOK C. ROCK- WELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTorches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

The invention relates to the class of destructible pyrotechnic orilluminating torches, used for celebrations, display effects, or forsignaling purposes, the object being to produce a cheap torch of thisclass that will burn ing the elements of safety, lghtn ess, strength,durability and life, thereby obviating the liability of disastrousexplosions and damaging accidents, reducing the costof handling,transportation and the price of manufacture, and preventing atmosphericaction which deleteriously affects the brilliancy, intensity and life ofthe torch.

To this end the invention residesin atorch consisting of abody ofpressed, matted, felted or woven fibrous material treated and thoroughlyimpregnated With a combustible compound mixed with a flame coloringingredient, as more particularly hereinafter described and pointed outin the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:- Figure l is a side View of oneform of torch embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of amodified form. Fig. 3 is aside view of still another shape. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section of one form of torch; and Fig. is a transversesection of the same.

In the views l indicates the body of the torch, which is rolled, foldedor pressed into the shape of a tube, cylinder or package, of a woven,pressed, felted or matted fibrous substance, as cloth, paper, pulp or asimilar consumable material capable ot' absorbing liquid. It ispreferred that this body be formed of uncalendered paper of the natureof blotting paper, which can be easily rolled, folded or pressed toshape, and which has a large capacity for absorbing the liquid withwhich it is treated. The body, after it is formed or the material beforeforming, is treated by dipping and soaking, by coating, or by injectinginto its pores under pressure a liquid containing in solution acombustible material Serial No. 435,429. (No model.)

which burns with great intensity, as c hlorate of potash, and a flamecoloring ingredient, as nitrate of strontia, which burns with a redflame, and which being salts, are soluble iu Water. After the body isthoroughly permeated and impregnated with the solution, which of coursemay be varied for producing different eects, it is dried by naturalevaporation or an artificial draft, and is then capable of burning Withan intense brilliancy; and in this state it is usually dipped in someair excluding varnish or lacquer to preserve it from moisture.. If it isdesired to retard the combustion of the material when burning, an earth,gum or paste may be added to the solution, or such a substance may ifnecessary be applied tothe surface by immersing the torch in a liquidgum, as shellac, or vegetable paste, as iiour. The body is usuallyformed into a tube so that a draft of air will pass through the interiorto aid in the combustion, and if desired perforations 2 may be made fromthe exterior to the interior through the sides, to increase the draftand produce better combustion.

If desired, to increase the amount of combustible compound, the surfaceof the material from which the body is formed may be pricked,perforated, crinkled or cupped in any common manner so as to hold alarger quantity of combustible compound, which may be forced into thepores or against the surface of the body.

The body is usually fixed to a handle, leg or support 3, by which it maybe held in the hand, planted in the earth, or supported on a curb, asshown in the drawings, or if this is not desired, one end of the body,as at 4;, may be dipped into or coated with a flreproof material beforethe combustible compound is applied, to form a handle to which the torchIOO ducingabrilliantlight. Thebody burns without leaving any amount ofhot ash or residuum, as the body is also consumable and does not requireany quantity of retardinggnm as does a powder, and should the body breakin two there is no powder to spill and become a source of danger as wellas waste.

A torch constructed as above described is strong, has not a tendency tobreak in two, is light in weight and is cheap in construction, making asaving in handling and transportation as Well as in cost of manufacture.

I claim as my inventionl. A torch, consisting of a homogeneous body ofbibulous material, with a combustible compound incorporated between theparticles of the bibulous body, substantially as speciied.

FREDERICK C. ROCKWELL. Witnesses:

H. R. WILLIAMS, J oHN P. HEALY.

